Corneal microstructure in thyroid eye disease patients after upper eyelid retraction surgery
L.K. Anikina1, 2, S.Yu. Astakhov 1, V.V. Potemkin1,2, T.S. Varganova2, M. Ezugbaya3
1 Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education ?Academician
I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University? of the Ministry of
Healthcare of Russian Federation;197022, St. Petersburg, Lva Tolstogo St., 6-8;
2 St. Petersburg State Budgetary Healthcare Institution "City Multifunctional Hospital
No. 2" 194354, St. Petersburg, Uchebny Pereulok, 5.
3 St. Petersburg State Budgetary Healthcare Institution «Diagnostic center No. 7»
(ocular) for adult and child population 191028, St. Petersburg, Mokhovaya st., 38
Brief summary
Background. Due to the widespread use of confocal microscopy in patients
with thyroid eye disease (TED), a decrease in the cell density of various corneal
layers and the number of nerve fibers compared to healthy individuals has been
detected. The aim of the study is to investigate the changes in corneal microstructure
before and after surgical treatment of upper eyelid retraction associated with TED.
Materials and Methods. The study included patients with upper eyelid
retraction due to TED with edematous exophthalmos. Full-thickness blepharotomy
with upper eyelid lengthening using an alloplant for eyelid reconstruction was
performed on 28 patients (45 eyes) (Group I), and upper tarsal muscle extirpation was
performed on 18 patients (22 eyes) with mild upper eyelid retraction (Group II).
Confocal microscopy was conducted before and six months after the operation.
Results. Six months after the operation, in both groups, no statistically
significant changes were observed in such confocal microscopy parameters of the
cornea as epithelial cell density and desquamation degree, anterior stromal keratocyte
density, Bowman's membrane and stromal folds, hyperreflective inclusions, length
and density of subbasal nerve plexus fibers, and the presence of granular-like
inclusions.
Conclusion. Surgical treatment of upper eyelid retraction associated with TED
does not have a significant impact on corneal microstructure according to confocal
microscopy data.